NEW YORK
Observer-Dispatch
By GREG MASON / gmason@uticaod.com
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse has requested the dismissal of claims against it as part of a lawsuit accusing a former Utica-area priest of sexually abusing children about three decades ago.
The diocese filed its motion July 10 in Federal District Court in Connecticut in the case involving former priest Felix Colosimo. Colosimo is accused of abusing California resident Matthew Strzepek on multiple occasions from 1987 to 1990 when Strzepek was 12 to 15 years old.
The Syracuse diocese removed Colosimo from priestly ministry in 2014 upon finding Strzepek’s allegations credible. Among other allegations, Strzepek’s lawsuit claims the diocese is liable for Colosimo’s alleged actions and accuses the diocese of failing to respond appropriately.
Strzepek is seeking $25 million in damages each from Colosimo and the diocese. The diocese, however, wants to completely dismiss the allegations against itself.
The court motion is supported with an affidavit from Timothy Elmer, the diocese’s vicar general who served as chancellor from July 2010 to December 2014, according to his affidavit.
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